2012 Scott Spark 29 RC Review

Scott has done a great job with their 29er hardtails, so it’s natural that the market has been anticipating their first full-suspension 29ers for quite some time. Well, for 2012, Scott introduces the Spark 29 in both aluminum and carbon versions. I hit the trails on the flagship Spark 29 RC complete with its SRAM XX drivetrain, Scott Nude2 shock (DT Swiss) and Rockshox SID 29 RLT3 fork. The lift test in the booth resulted in a “holy crap, this is light!” response from me. I couldn’t get a definitive answer, but I’m guessing sub 25 lbs for sure.

One of the greatest advancements with this bike is that it doesn’t have the Scott Equalizer shock. While the Equalizer does work well, it’s somewhat challenging to set up. Instead of an Equalizer shock, Scott has worked with DT Swiss to deliver an all-new Nude2 shock that sports a single valve for easy setup.

Off I went to explore some singletrack, but first I goofed around a bit on the pavement to see how maneuverable this bike would be. Steering is sharp and precise and handling is ultra-responsive.

Hitting the dirt, the Spark 29 RC felt smooth and fast on the climb. I played around with Scott’s awesome Twinloc system to see how the bike handled. Mounted on the left side of the bars, this system allows you to drop the travel to 70mm in the rear and change the dampening on-the-fly or lock out the front and rear completely. I’m a fan of the Twinloc for extended pavement or fire road climbs, but honestly, I left it wide open for most of the climb. For most climbs, this bike is so efficient and smooth that, in my opinion, it’s not necessary.

Once I decided to turn around and descend, I was quickly reminded that this bike is really a purebred XC racing machine. The suspension is efficient and tuned for ultra-efficient singletrack assaults. I felt that the whole package was like descending in a sports car. All that efficiency does reduce its “point it” ability, but man is this bike fast. Pick your lines and enjoy the ride… this bike will never be at fault for your inability to lead the pack on your next group ride.

Good Spark 29

Wow is it light

This thing nearly climbs on its own

Very sexy carbon lines from one of the leaders in carbon fiber technology

Race-tuned to give you an edge over your competition

142mm rear axle adds stiffness

New Scott Nude2 shock simplifies setup

Bad Spark 29

You can’t “point it” on the downhill

Unless you’ve got the coin, this one will be drool material only

Bottom Line: 2012 Scott Spark 29 RC

Without a doubt, this bike is an XC racing machine. Look for the 2012 Scott Spark 29 RC to go toe-to-toe with bikes like the Gary Fisher Superfly 100 and hold its own. Scott knows a ton about building carbon fiber frames and it shows on this beautiful bike.

About Author

A Seattle native, Jason developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 --sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. That passion is channeled into every article or gear review he writes. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground.

4 Comments

Hi Jason, Be interested in your review of the Scott RC 29er with their slacker head angles. The steep HA of the Niner allows for throwing through tight turns and is still stable on the descents (as you no doubt know from your time on Niners). Some reviewrs call the Niner’s angles ‘old school’ but I think that it works really well for an xc orientated bike, even in our UK singletrack.